How Do You Handle Offense??

-Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry. For man’s anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires-
(James 1:19)

Hey Neighbor,

In our last lesson, ‘God Will Provide the Ram,’ we looked at how David learned to practice spiritual restraint and self-control, as he sowed mercy…instead of hostility and violence upon a young Egyptian, who had attacked his family.

Now David had not been merciful to this young man because it was instinctive for him to behave that way…Nope!!

That’s Was Not David’s Nature!!

‘Merciful’ would not have been a word that David’s former enemies would have used to describe him

You see… Typically, David didn’t ‘take no mess!!’ He did not tolerate any abuse against the Lord’s anointed, nor did he bear insults nor offense well…at all!!

Listen to the words that David spoke after a foolish Nabal railed insults at Him in 1 Samuel, Chapter 25…

-And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!”…-

You see…David’s instinctive nature was to run you through with the sword FIRST…and THEN mourn his bad behavior later. LOL!!

David was like a ticking time bomb…and Nabal had ticked him off!!

Now David swore that he was going to kill every man in Nabal’s camp before the sun came up!!
But because the Spirit of the Lord was with him…changing him, transforming him, and teaching him self-control, David practiced self restraint and therefore…he spared Nabal’s life and the lives of his men.

David later acknowledged that…’if it had not been For God’…He would have done all that he had sworn to do to Nabal and More.

These were the words that he spoke to Abigail, Nabal’s wife, Who had come to David pleading for mercy upon her foolish husband in 1 Samuel 25:34

-For as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, Who has prevented me from hurting you, if you had not hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning there would not have been left so much as one male (belonging) to Nabal-

You see…It was the Spirit of the Lord that had prevented David from Behaving rashly, in the heat of anger…God kept him from Killing Nabal, and all his men, and from taking their women and children as captives.

See God was changing David’s hot tempered, hasty nature…teaching him how to listen, think, and speak…and also how to behave sensibly, when offense comes.

How well do You handle offense??

Are You cooperating with The Holy Spirit, as He is gently attempting to change your behavior??

-But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge-

(Galatians 5:23)

See Neighbor, when We begin to cooperate with The Holy Spirit, He can transform our lives and teach Us self-control.

He will teach Us how to be meek and humble, and when offense comes, He will be with Us…preventing Us from snapping out and acting a fool…and regretting it later.

So Let The Lord fight Your Battles…He will both protect and avenge you…If You will Exercise Self Control…Being Slow To Anger and Slow to Speak!!

And…Because David suffered Nabal’s offensive words without avenging himself….The Lord did Avenge David and Gave him his enemy’s widow.

Widow??

Yep!! Nabal suffered a stroke and died just 10 days afterwards…And David sent for the beautiful Abigail, who agreed to become David’s wife.

-Good sense makes one slow to anger,
and it is his glory to overlook an offense-

(Proverbs 19:11)

Thanks For Stopping By…Until We Meet Again,
God Loves You and So Do I!!

-Tam

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